Sports
High School Sports

Turkey Bowl 2017 rough on Fellowes

Stephen Uhler/Pembroke Daily Observer/Postmedia Network
Pembroke Mayor Michael LeMay takes part in the ceremonial kick off marking the start of the annual Turkey Bowl, held Saturday at Fellowes High School. Keeping an eye on him were Fellowes Falcons Noah Lenser (31), Tyler Crigger (50) and Jansen Campbell (65) and Fellowes High School principal Dean Zadow.

The Fellowes Falcons continue to struggle to achieve a win on the football field – or even to score points – as they were trounced 42-0 at home in Saturday's annual Turkey Bowl.

Large crowds packed the sidelines of alumni field at Fellowes as the Pembroke high school hosted the contest, with the rain holding off during the gridiron duel. The sun peeked through the clouds on occasion

The outcome of the Thanksgiving traditional game between the Falcons and Deep River's Mackenzie Community School Mustangs was never really in doubt by the half, with Mackenzie taking an insurmountable 35 point lead by then.

The Falcons were able to advance the ball throughout the game, but kept getting shut down by the Mustangs' defence, or would turn over the ball at the worst possible moment. The Deep River school has been showing a lot of prowess on the field, and is considered by some to be a serious contender in the Lanark-Renfrew High School Football League.

Ben Cooney, a fullback with Mackenzie, said for a small school such as theirs, they have managed to create an impressive football program.

“For a small school to have a program we have and to be as successful as we have, it is something special,” he said.

The Turkey Bowl has been a long-standing tradition between the two schools back in the heyday of Renfrew County high school football. It was resurrected in 2011when Fellowes High School's program returned to the field.

In the first quarter, things got off to a shaky start after Fellowes quarterback Noah Lenser threw an interception to Mackenzie's Blake Remus, who then ran 12 yards for the touchdown.

In the first play of the second quarter, Cooney ran a 13-yard touchdown to make it 14-0, then Remus scored his second touchdown with a 12-yard run to make it 21-0.

The score became 28-0 after Alex Everick made a 55 yard punt return to score a touchdown, then Remus scored his third touchdown of the game with a four-yard run to end the half on a 35-0 note.

After the third quarter passed with no scoring, Everick made his second touchdown of the contest in the fourth quarter after intercepting the ball and running back 48 yards to score. This would be the last points of the game.

The win means Mackenzie has won the Turkey Bowl five times out of seven match ups with Fellowes. The win leaves the Mustangs with a two win, one loss record this season, while the Falcons remain winless in three games.

Fellowes next home game is Friday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m., when they will be playing Arnprior.